Assistive Tech UCP Central PA

01/12/2026

Do you use a house phone? Are you able to hear it when it rings?

If not, you may be interested in the Clear Sounds CR200 ring signaler. Simply connect it to your telephone and when you receive a call the bright flashing strobe and the extra loud ringer are activated. The signaler rings at up to 95dB. It also has a bright strobe light that flashes along with the signal to attract your attention.

This ring signaler is one of many items available from Pennsylvania's Free Special Phone Program. The Free Special Phone Program provides phones to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, have a speech impairment, blindness or visual programs as well as physical or intellectual disabilities.

For more information on Pennsylvania's Free Special Phone Program and to see if you qualify, go to https://techowlpa.org/tddp/.

01/04/2026

Today is World Braille Day!

Do you know someone in Pennsylvania who would benefit from a Braille device? The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Lending Library has a number of Braille notetakers and refreshable Braille displays that are available to borrow on a short-term basis. They also have a Braille label maker and a Perkins classic Braller available.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Lending Library or to borrow one of these items, go to https://techowlpa.org/library/ and click on Go to the Library.

12/26/2025

Changing Hands has 3 pediatric manual wheelchairs available for pick up in Camp Hill, PA. The small blue one has a seat that is 10" wide. The orange one with the headrest is 14" wide and the orange one with no head rest has a seat that is 16" wide. If you are interested in one of these wheelchairs, please e-mail atucp@ucpcentralpa.org for more information or to schedule a day and time to pick it up. We are not able to monitor facebook messages and only respond to e-mails.

11/28/2025

Changing Hands has 2 pediatric toileting systems available. Both are size small. One is a Rifton HTS system. It has a tray and side supports. It does not recline. The other is the older Rifton Blue Wave System. It also had a tray and does recline. These are available for pick up by appointment in Camp Hill, PA. If you are in need of one of these items, please e-mail atucp@ucpcentralpa.org to schedule a day and time for pick up. Please contact us through e-mail. We are not able to view facebook messages on a regular basis.

11/15/2025

Today is America Recycles Day! Did you know that TechOWL Regional Resource Centers have reuse programs? One of Central Pennsylvania's reuse programs is Changing Hands. We accept a variety of assistive technology and durable medical equipment in good working order. We clean and inventory it, then provide it to people at no charge. Do you have equipment in good working order you would like to donate? To find a TechOWL reuse partner program or resource center, go to https://techowlpa.org/reep/.

Reused Equipment Program Get it. Give it. Donate your used tools and devices. Giving Tech a Second Life TechOWL helps connect people with the tools they need through our equipment donation program.…

11/13/2025

11/12/2025

Changing Hands has information on a modular ramp system available for pick up in the Harrisburg area. This is not a picture of the ramp available. I don't know if it has a turn or not, but the ramp sections measure 11.5 feet. ADA guidelines are 1 inch of ramp for every 12 inches of height. If you are in need of a ramp this size, please e-mail atucp@ucpcentralpa.org and we will provide contact information.

11/10/2025

Pennsylvania’s Free Special Phone program provides house phones and cell phones to people who are blind/have low vision, are deaf/hard of hearing, have difficulty with speech or mobility or have cognitive issues.
Among the phones available are three cell phones specifically designed for people who are blind/have low vision. The phones available are the SmartVision 3, Mini Vision 2+ and the BlindShell Classic 3. These phones have a tactile keypad and are able to read the contacts and text messages aloud. For more information on these phones, or to see if you are eligible for a free phone, go to https://techowlpa.org/tddp/.

11/07/2025

Governor Shapiro has proclaimed November as Assistive Technology Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. Assistive devices help people of all ages and abilities to keep or increase their independence.

TechOWL is Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Act project. TechOWL has 9 Regional Resource Centers across Pennsylvania. TechOWL's Resource Centers can help you to borrow items to try on a short term basis, provide demonstrations of devices, help you find equipment reuse programs, and answer questions about assistive technology.

For more information about TechOWL's programs, visit www.techowl.org.
To find the Assistive Technology Resource Center that covers your county, go to https://techowlpa.org/atrc/.

11/05/2025

Changing Hands has a Kid Walk II available. It is a "gait training device that is intended to assist in teaching proper gait with the person's feet on the floor." It fits children age 5-12 with a maximum weight of 90 pounds.

This item is available for pick up in Camp Hill, PA. If you are interested in this item, please e-mail atucp@ucpcentralpa.org. Requests in messenger will not be answered.

10/31/2025

Changing Hands currently has 4 Rifton Pacer gait trainers available. They come with a variety of attachments. One is a size Small, with a 75 pound weight limit. The other 3 are size Large, with a 200 pound weight limit. These items are available for pick up in Camp Hill, PA. If you are interested in one of these gait trainers, or would like more information on them, please e-mail atucp@ucpcentralpa.org as we are not able to access messenger on a regular basis.

10/30/2025

Today is National Candy Corn Day. Because of that, we wanted to introduce you to the Big Candy Corn Switch. This is a proximity switch. It is highly sensitive and does not require a physical touch from the user to activate it. Simply wave a hand or move your body within 1-in/2.5-cm of BIG Candy Corn and it activates. It has an auditory beep and visual feedback can be turned on and off and a larger activation area that is approximately 3.5-in/9-cm wide. It can be plugged in and activate a toy or device that has a 3.5 mm switch jack.

The Big Candy Corn switch is available for a short term loan from the PA Assistive Technology Lending Library. For more information on borrowing this or other switches in the library, go to https://techowlpa.org/library/.

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